The deal brings to close a busy week for @Home in which it also announced a series of marketing initiatives that included the launch of a new advertising campaign, a Cisco co-sponsored mall tour, and a retail agreement with Computer City.

Last month, @Home also announced expansion into the international arena, signing an agreement to form @Home Netherlands, a joint venture with Dutch cable operators CasTel and Palet Kabelcom. The European deal followed an announcement the same week by @Home in which the company said it surpassed the 100,000 subscriber mark.

Century Communications, which claims to be the ninth biggest cable provider in the country, said that the @Home joint effort--called Century@Home--will be rolled out in metro hubs such as Los Angeles and Colorado Springs. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"By joining forces with Century, @Home Network gains access to a
significant amount of demographically viable homes in key metropolitan
markets," said Dean Gilbert, senior vice president and general manager of
@Home Network.

Century Communications, based in California, owns and operates 71 cable television systems in 25 states and Puerto Rico. The company said it is currently fitting its cable systems with the hybrid-fiber coaxial (HFC) structure to integrate with @Home's national broadband system.